Alexisonfire
From Free net encyclopedia
Alexisonfire is a post-hardcore band from St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Their music is characterized by turbulent and explosive dynamics with intricate guitar melodies. Alexisonfire’s lyrical topics range from relationship troubles to go-karting, all delivered either by George Pettit’s tormented screams, Dallas Green’s sweet vocal melodies and Wade MacNeil’s sarcastic sneer.
Despite popular belief from some individuals, not helped by the band spelling their name as one word, the band is called "Alexis On Fire" not "Alex Is On Fire". <ref>As taken from the official website's FAQs: "What kind of an idiot would name a band alex is on fire?"</ref>
Alexisonfire is managed by Joel Carriere, co-founder of the popular Canadian online music magazine Bedlam Society, and their label, Dine Alone Records.
Contents |
History
Alexisonfire consists of five friends who formed a band in late 2001 as the result of a three-band break up. The band's name is a sort-of homage to Alexis Fire, who claimed to be the world's only lactating contortionist stripper. 1 This caused problems when she discovered that they were using her website name (alexisonfire.com) as their band name, and threatened to sue. However, since she had never copyrighted the title nothing became of these threats. The band released its first EP, Math Sheet Demos in 2002 so named because the CD was wrapped in former drummer, Jesse Ingelevics' math homework. The first, self-titled studio album Alexisonfire was released that same year. Initially they faced hard times, getting virtually no radio airtime, which continues to stand true today regardless of their popularity. This didn't hold the band back though, regardless they broke through, gaining notoriety on the underground, and eventually mainstream with the support of Much Music.
Fanbase
While their largest fanbase is in their home country of Canada, they are also becoming more popular in other parts of the world. In early 2005 they toured Europe and Australia with the band Rise Against, with numerous European venues selling out or having to be upgraded to accommodate the large number of fans. In October 2005, the band embarked on their first ever headlining tour of Europe with British bands (and now very close friends) The Blood Roses and Johnny Truant.
Awards/ Nominations
Image:Alexisonfire at the MMVA's.jpg
- The band was up for "ugliest rock band ever" at the CASBY awards (held by local Toronto radio station) but lost out to another Canadian band, Sum 41.
- The video for Pulmonary Archery won 'Best Video' at the 2004 Canadian Independent Music Awards.
- They won a VideoFACT at the 2004 MuchMusic Video Awards and New Group Of The Year at the 2005 Juno awards. The video for Accidents also won Best Independent Video at the 2005 MuchMusic Video Awards
- The band were also nominated for a Peoples' Choice Award as Favourite Canadian Group but lost to Simple Plan.
Band Members
Active Members
- George Pettit- Vocals
- Dallas Green - Guitar, vocals
- Wade MacNeil - Guitar, vocals
- Chris Steele - Bass Guitar
- Jordan "Ratbeard" Hastings - Drums
Departed Members
As of June 14, 2005, Alexisonfire made a statement on their website that Jesse Ingelevics, the band's drummer is no longer part of the band. The news story cited that the band and Ingelevics had slowly grown apart, and that he wanted to spend more time with his family and his fiancee. Former drummer of Jersey, Jordan Hastings (amiably nicknamed Ratbeard), is now the current drummer of Alexisonfire.
Side Projects
Image:Sometimes - Cover.jpg The members of the band have two side projects:
City and Colour
City and Colour is Dallas Green's solo side project, under which he has released an EP, The Death of Me, and a studio album, Sometimes; both under the label Dine Alone Records.
The Black Lungs
The Black Lungs is a band formed by George Pettit and Wade McNeil with two members of the now separated band Jersey. Little is yet known about the band beyond this.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Alexisonfire (2002)
- Watch Out! (2004)
- Crisis (2006)
EPs
- Math Sheet Demos (2002)
- Pink Heart Skull Sampler (2002)
- Brown Heart Skull Sampler (2004)
- The Switcheroo Series: Alexisonfire vs. Moneen (Split EP with the band Moneen) (2005)
Videography
- Pulmonary Archery from Alexisonfire
- Counterparts And Number Them from Alexisonfire
- Waterwings (And Other Poolside Fashion Faux Pas) from Alexisonfire
- Accidents from Watch Out!
- No Transitory from Watch Out!
- "Hey, It's Your Funeral Mama" from Watch Out!
- Passing Out In America/Accidents Are On Purpose with Moneen from The Switcheroo Series: Alexisonfire vs. Moneen
Direction
All the band's videos were directed by Marc Ricciardelli, who states he wishes to create videos that are unusual and that people will not expect for this type of band. For example, the video for Counterparts and Number Them has the band playing in a park on a sunny day while children run around playing. For their debut video for the song, Pulmonary Archery, the band were given a choice: to have a video that was simply performance but looked good production-wise or a complex plotted video that didn't look as good. The band chose the performance video, which won 'Best Video' at the 2004 Canadian Independent Music Awards. Waterwings (And Other Poolside Fashion Faux Pas) shows each member of the band in separate street gangs who go on to show off their best dance moves as they duke it out in an old fashioned dance-off competition. Accidents however, was more serious than their previous videos, showing the band tearing through Toronto as paramedics and features no performance from the band themselves. The video for Hey, It's Your Funeral Mama sees the band 'auditioning' replacements for themselves so as to avoid touring the world. Each new 'member' is played by friends of the band. One of the 'Georges' is played by Kenny Bridges from Moneen. This video also sees the band poking fun at themselves and any particular quirks they may have. For example, Dallas is teaching future Dallas' how to swish their hair properly - just like he does and Wade measures all the "'Wades'" sideburns to make sure they are the right size. Their latest video for Passing Out In America/Accidents Happen On Purpose is a video shared with Moneen. It employs a split screen technique with both bands' videos happening at the same time.
Trivia
- The First song Alexisonfire wrote was "Phisophical Significance of Shooting My Sister in the Face. An Essay By James Secord" off of the Math Sheet Demo's EP
- The second song Alexisonfire wrote was "Little Girls Pointing and Laughing"
- Where No One Knows was originally (in part) a song by Dallas Green (as City and Colour). That song is called Sam Malone.
- Each member of Alexisonfire has the word "Yeti" tattooed on themselves. They each got these tattoos in Glasgow, Scotland in October 2005 when on tour with Johnny Truant and The Blood Roses. Every member of Johnny Truant and The Blood Roses also have the same tattoo.
See also
References
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